Antony's silence on scams reflects decadence of Congress: Pinarayi

Kochi: In a scathing attack on Congress, CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan Thursday said the "silence" of its leaders such as A K Antony over solar scam and the bar bribery charges haunting the Ommen Chandy regime in Kerala reflected the party's "decadence" under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi.

Vijayan, who is set to spearhead the campaign of CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the coming assembly polls in the state, also said that "corruption" under UDF Government would be a major plank of the Left.

Talking to PTI here, he questioned the "silence" of Antony, known as the "Mr Clean" and said it was a pointer to the "moral bankruptcy" of the Congress.

Referring to the scams, Vijayan, leading the Nava Kerala Yatra -- a campaign from Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram raising various issues -- said the sooner Chandy resigns as Chief Minister, it is better for the state and Congress.

"Kerala has not seen such a spicy scam in its history. We are seeing the moral degeneration of Congress. Congress leaders are not capable of speaking against corruption under Sonia Gandhi's leadership," he said.

"Such a decadence is reflected on Antony who is a top leader of the Congress", he said referring to the former chief minister's silence about solar panel scam and bar bribery charges in which Ministers and other senior leaders had been accused of corruption and sexual harassment.

"That's why he (Antony) is keeping mum about scandals involving his party colleagues in Kerala", Vijayan said.

He said LDF would focus on corruption issue during the campaign along with its development and welfare agenda.

Asked whether there was any plan to expand the LDF before the assembly polls, the CPI(M) politburo member said it cannot be decided all of a sudden but some political parties now part of the UDF were qualified to join the LDF.

"If they take a political decision to leave the UDF, we do not have any difficulties in accommodating them", he said referring to Janata Dal (U) and RSP.

"Normally in such a situation these parties will get precedence as they were once part of LDF. Now it is up to them to decide whether to continue to remain a partner of Congress-led UDF, which faces degeneration, or be part of LDF", he said.

Elaborating on the LDF's campaign agenda, he said apart from providing a corruption-free rule, it was also important to implement development schemes in a time-bound manner.

"If the LDF is voted to power in the Assembly polls we will also be laying due stress on farming and rural sectors".

Referring to the Amul Model of Dairy Development, Vijayan said such a model would be emulated in Kerala to revive the farm sector which is in deep crisis due to falling prices of agri products.